Wikipedia / Judi Farr
Wikipedia / Judi Farr
Judith Mary Stuart Farr (5 October 1938 – 30 June 2023), also credited as Judy Farr, was an Australian actress of theatre, film and television, with a career spanning some seven decades, she was best known locally for several situation comedy roles starting from the early 1960's to the early 1980's, in the early days of Australian television
She later had small roles in the internationally successful drama series Please Like Me (2013) A Place to Call Home (2013-2015)
Farr also appeared in Australian films such as Walking on Water, for which she won an AFI award and December Boys
Early life
Farr was born in Cairns, Queensland in 1938, and was the first born child of Phyllis and Herbert 'Bert' Farr. Her father's death in Borneo during World War 2 prompted her mother to move the family to Bondi, Sydney, where Judi and her brother Michael, grew up by the beach in their grandmother’s unit.
At the age of nine Farr won an elocution competition, reciting William Shakespeare at Sydney Town Hall. She studied ballet for 10 years, quitting in her teen years. She attended Holy Cross School in Woollahra.
Farr enrolled in drama school for 3 months and soon after, joined The Colony Players, an amateur Sydney theatre group, and acted in satirical revues at the Phillip Street Theatre. At age 19, she had her lucky break at the Genesian Theatre in The Skin of Our Teeth.
Career
Television
Farr made her television debut in a 1962 live broadcast of The Taming of the Shrew on ABC TV.
Farr became well known for her role of Rita Stiller in the situation comedy My Name's McGooley, What's Yours? (1967–1968). She continued to play the character in that show's short-lived sequel series Rita and Wally in 1968.
Later she played a similarly high-profile regular role in a successful sitcom, portraying dizzy wife Thelma Bullpitt in Kingswood Country starting in 1980. She left the series in 1982, and in the script Thelma was sent off on a world cruise. She later sent word she would not be returning to her husband and Farr did not return to the series.
Aside from these roles Farr had a long and busy career acting in dramatic roles in film and theatre, and television. She had guest roles in drama series, television movies and miniseries. Television roles of the 1970s included guest spots on dramas including the Crawford Productions police shows, and a recurring role in soap opera Number 96 in 1974 and 1975, as April Bullock playing in comedy storylines. Later guest appearances include roles in A Country Practice, All Saints and CrashBurn.
Farr was also known for playing Aunt Peg in Please Like Me.
Film roles
Her first film role was a brief appearance in They're a Weird Mob (1966). Later films include Fatty Finn (1980), The Year My Voice Broke (1987), Flirting (1991) and Oscar and Lucinda (1997). Her film and television roles of the 2000s include Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars (2004) TV movie, The Alice (2004) TV movie, Thunderstruck (2004), Go Big (2004) TV movie, Walking on Water (2002) and Changi (2001) (miniseries).
Theatre work
She toured nationally and internationally with Cloudstreet and has worked for all major theatre companies in productions which include Death of a Salesman, Lettice and Lovage (opposite June Salter) and Angels in America.
Honours & awards
Farr was awarded the 1992 Theatre Critics Award for her stage role in Women of Troy and was the winner of the 2002 AFI Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 2002 film Walking on Water.
She received a 2016 Sydney Theatre Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sydney Theatre Awards.
Farr was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for "significant service to the performing arts as an actor" in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours.
Personal life
In 1963, Farr married Derry Macgillicuddy, after meeting him while performing together in a Genesian Theatre production. The couple had three children – Sean, Sarah and Bridie.
Illness & death
Farr retired from the industry in 2015, after a cancer battle. She had been diagnosed with a squamous cell carcinoma in her parotid gland, during her time working on the A Place to Call Home. The operation to remove it resulted in unilateral facial disfigurement, which was cause for several reconstructive surgeries. Judi had a stroke in 2016.
Farr died of respiratory failure on 30 June 2023 after a long illness, at the age of 84.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Type |
1962 | TV movie | ||
1962 | Family Album | TV movie | |
1964 | Split Level | TV movie | |
1966 | Telephonist in Hotel (uncredited) | Feature film | |
1979 | New Resident | Feature film | |
1979 | Mother | Feature film | |
1980 | Mrs. Hogan | Feature film | |
1982 | Dingle and the Dip | TV movie | |
1984 | Hannah Jane Peden | TV movie | |
1985 | Brides of the Gods | Narrator | Film documentary |
1986 | Aunt Bea | Feature film | |
1986 | Eilen Bayliss | TV movie | |
1987 | Right From Day One | Herself | Training film |
1987 | Go For It | Role unknown | Short film |
1987 | Sheila Embling | Feature film | |
1991 | Sheila Embling | Feature film | |
1995 | Mother's Requiem | Mother | Short film |
1996 | Mother | Feature film | |
1997 | Mrs. Smith | Feature film | |
2000 | My Mother My Son | Mother | Short film |
2002 | Margaret | Feature film | |
2003 | Page to Stage | Herself - Performance Director | TV film documentary |
2004 | Mrs. Jones | Feature film | |
2004 | Marion Katz | TV movie | |
2004 | Lee | TV movie | |
2006 | Florence Broadhurst | Feature film documentary | |
2006 | Mrs. Koppel | TV movie | |
2007 | Reverend Mother | Feature film | |
2008 | The Sound of Shadows | Christina | Short film |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Type |
1964–65 | Here's Dawn | TV series | |
1966 | Alys - Computer | TV miniseries, 6 episodes | |
1966–68 | Rita Stiller | TV series, 88 episodes | |
1968 | Rita Stiller | TV series, 8 episodes | |
1970 | Anna Seberg | TV series, episode 11: "Somebody's Kid Is Missing" | |
1970, 1971 | Lillian Walker / Trish Carstairs | TV series, 2 episodes | |
1972 | Christine | TV series, 1 episode | |
1972 | Jill | TV series, 1 episode | |
1973 | TV series, 1 episode: "The Engagement Party" | ||
1973 | Anne Sullivan | TV series, episode 6: "A Game of Hearts" | |
1974 | Mac and Merle | TV series, regular role | |
1974 | TV miniseries, 1 episode | ||
1974–75 | Alderman Mrs April Bullock | TV series, 10 episodes | |
1975 | Harriet | TV series, episode 5: "George Coppin" | |
1976 | Slater | TV series, episode 4: "Hospitality" | |
1978 | Aunty Tom | TV series, episode 3: "The Floating Housekeeper" | |
1978 | Rachel Benson | TV series, episode 2: "Relative Air Pollution" | |
1980–1982 | Thelma Bullpitt | TV series, 59 episodes | |
1983 | Mary Miles | TV miniseries, episode 2: "The Game" | |
1983 | Faye Simpson | TV series, 2 episodes | |
1983 | TV series, 1 episode | ||
1985 | Ellen Bayliss | TV film | |
1985 | Abbatoir Manager's Wife | TV film series, 1 episode | |
1986 | Norma Hammond | TV series, 2 episodes | |
1986 | Matron | TV series, 1 episode | |
1987 | TV miniseries, 1 episode | ||
1987 | Amy Davidson | TV miniseries, 2 episodes | |
1988 | Rhonda White | TV series, 1 episode | |
1988 | Ma (Mrs. Lyell) | TV film series, episode 5: "Lottie Lyell" | |
1989 | Joan | TV series, 1 episode | |
1990 | Mrs. Gartred | TV miniseries, 2 episodes | |
1991 | Phyllis | TV series, 1 episode | |
1991 | Grace Mullens | TV series, 1 episode | |
1991 | TV series, 1 episode | ||
1994 | Helen Kendall / Kathleen Sutton | TV series, 2 episodes | |
1997 | Arch's Mother | TV series, 1 episode | |
1997 | Mrs. Parkins | TV series, 1 episode | |
1999 | Kathleen O'Hara | TV series, 4 episodes | |
2000–03 | Janice Corniglio | TV series, 18 episodes | |
2000 | Aunty Jan | TV series, 1 episode | |
2001 | Older Joyce | TV miniseries, 1 episode | |
2001 | Liz Cunio | TV series, 1 episode | |
2003 | Marg | TV series, 1 episode | |
2004 | Scarran Doctor | TV miniseries, 2 episodes | |
2011; 2012 | Nan / Pearl | TV series, 2 episodes | |
2012 | Mrs. Bishop | TV film, 1 episode | |
2013 | Aunty Peg | TV series, 4 episodes | |
2013 | Twentysomething | Marie | TV series, 1 episode |
2013 | Dorothy Jessup | TV series, 1 episode | |
2013-15 | Peg Moloney | TV series, 7 episodes |
Television (as self)
Year | Title | Role | Type |
1960 | The Mobil-Limb Show | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
1965 | Herself - Various characters | TV series | |
1979; 1983 | Guest | TV series, 3 episodes | |
1991 | In Sydney Today | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
1994 | Guest | TV series, 1 episode | |
1994 | The Mavis Bramston 30th Anniversary Special | Herself | TV special |
1996, 2006 | Herself | TV series, 2 episodes | |
1998 | Denise | Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
2007 | Herself | TV series, 1 episode |
Theatre
As actor
Year | Title | Role | Type |
1958 | Sabina | ||
1958 | The Vigil | ||
1958 | |||
1959 | |||
1959 | Hey Diddle Diddle | ||
1960 | Mistress Money | ||
1960 | |||
1961 | Only an Orphan Girl | ||
1961 | Stop Press | ||
1961 | Yes Please! | ||
1962 | At It Again | ||
1962 | Alice in Wonderland | ||
1963 | Start Living | Copenhagen Downstairs Revue, Sydney | |
1963 | The Rage | Copenhagen Downstairs Revue, Sydney | |
1963 | Do You Mind! | ||
1964 | St James' Hall, Sydney, Grace Bros Auditorium, Sydney | ||
1965 | |||
1965 | AMP Theatrette, Sydney | ||
1965 | An Evening With Noel Coward | St James Playhouse, Sydney | |
1969 | UNSW Old Tote Theatre, Sydney, SGIO Theatre, Brisbane, Playhouse, Canberra | ||
1970 | It's a Two Foot Six Inches Above the Ground World | ||
1971 | Madly in Love | AMP Theatrette, Sydney | |
1971 | Filth | Richbrooke Theatre, Sydney | |
1971 | |||
1971 | |||
1972 | Listen Closely | ||
1973 | |||
1973 | Kabul | ||
1975 | Sonny | ||
1976 | Lady Rumpers | ||
1976 | Gertrude Twine | ||
1977 | Going Bananas: Bananas / The Coroner's Report / The Flaw | ||
1977 | Sarah | ||
1978 | Christine | ||
1978 | Miss Furnival | ||
1978 | Eliante | ||
1978 | Hannah Jelkes | ||
1979 | Kookaburra | Eileen Clare | |
1979 | Mrs Dudgeon | Sydney Opera House with STC | |
1980 | Traitors | Mother Dybenko / Nadezdah | |
1981 | Edie Perkins | Sydney Opera House with STC | |
1982 | Linda Loman | ||
1982 | Lady Gay Spanker | ||
1983 | |||
1983-84 | 84 Charing Cross Road | Helene | |
1984 | Salonika | Enid | |
1984 | Rachel | ||
1985 | Barbara | ||
1985-86 | Kate | ||
1987 | When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout | ||
1987 | Breaking the Silence | Eugenia | |
1987-88 | Gwen | Sydney Opera House with STC | |
1988 | Kate | ||
1988 | Emma / Gwen | Pepsico Summerfare Festival, New York with STC | |
1989 | Ustinya | Northside Theatre, Sydney | |
1989 | Katherine | Northside Theatre, Sydney | |
1990 | Wallflowering | Peg | |
1990 | Dotty Otley | ||
1991 | Edie Harnett | ||
1992 | Joyce | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC | |
1992 | Hecuba | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC Won 1992 Sydney Critics Award for Best Actress | |
1992 | Lettice | Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane, Seymour Centre, Sydney | |
1992 | Mrs Lavinia Perriman | ||
1993 | Hannah / Ethel / Rabbi / Henry | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC | |
1993 | The Human Behan | ||
1993 | Claire | Sydney Opera House with STC | |
1994 | A Winning Day | Jane | Q Theatre, Penrith |
1994 | Sara Goode | Playhouse, Melbourne, Monash University, Theatre Royal, Hobart, Geelong Arts Centre, Wharf Theatre, Sydney, Glen Street Theatre, Sydney, Canberra Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre, Perth with MTC | |
1995 | Miss Madrigal | ||
1995 | Karen Frick | Cremorne Theatre with QTC | |
1996 | Live Acts on Stage | Eris | |
1996 | Archibald Prize - The Play | ||
1996 | The Queen and I | The Queen | Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Monash University, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide, Gold Coast Arts Centre, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Canberra Theatre, University of Sydney |
1996 | Scott | Playhouse, Adelaide with STCSA | |
1997 | Madame Pernelle / Grandma | Sydney Opera House with STC | |
1997 | After-Play | Terry | |
1998-99 | Oriel | Berth 9, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne | |
1998 | Kate McCrae | Sydney Opera House with STC | |
1998 | Navigating | Pam Shaw | Sydney Opera House with STC |
2000 | Susan | ||
2001 | |||
2002 | |||
2002 | Halie | ||
2003 | |||
2004 | The Unlikely Prospect of Happiness | Mary O'Sullivan | Sydney Theatre with STC |
2004-05 | |||
2005 | Melissa Gardner | ||
2007 | Ella Rentheim / Gunhild Borkman | ||
2007 | Glorious | Dorothy | |
2008 | Bertha | ||
2008 | The Pig Iron People | Janette | Sydney Opera House with STC |
2009 | Biondello | Theatre Royal, Hobart, Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mt Gambier, Chaffey Theatre, Renmark, Barossa Arts and Convention Centre, Northern Festival Centre, Port Pirie, Middleback Theatre, Whyalla, Nautilus Theatre, Port Lincoln, Canberra Theatre, Sydney Opera House with Bell Shakespeare | |
2010 | Mag | Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC | |
2010 | Alternate Violet | ||
2011 | Various roles | ||
2013 | Miss Marple | ||
2015 | Seventeen | ||
2020 |
As director
Year | Title | Role | Type |
1984 | Director | ||
1989 | Jigsaws | Director | Q Theatre, Penrith |
1990 | Director | ||
1990 | Perfect Mismatch | Director | |
1993 | Director | ||
1997 | Director | ||
2001 | Director | ||
2001 | Spurboard | Director | Performance Space, Wollongong |
References
External links